The Illiana girls cross country team has had a lot to smile about this season. They qualified as a team for today's Class 2A state meet in Peoria.

Valparaiso's Aurora Bonner was the team's top finisher at Saturday's IHSAA girls cross country championships in Terre Haute. The Vikings placed 15th as a team.

Griffith's Taylor Austin placed 22nd overall at Saturday's IHSAA girls cross country championships in Terre Haute.

TERRE HAUTE | When you think of Lowell, the first sport that comes to mind is probably football.

TERRE HAUTE | A sport doesn't have to have a ball involved to be a game of inches.

As soon as the fettucine alfredo hits the plate, it gets real.

When Aurora Bonner moved to Valparaiso from South Central two summers ago, the girl named after the Northern Lights needed a while to take a shine to her new school.

Valparaiso junior and South Central transfer Aurora Bonner is in her first season running cross country for the Vikings. She ran for the Satellites as a freshman.

When: Saturday, noon (girls), 12:45 p.m. (boys).